BTA hasn't eaten???

[tracyclifton]

I bought a BTA a little over three weeks ago. I did my research and got a really good looking nem. It was attached to a small rock so the store didn't need to detach it. I put it in the tank after drip acclimation. It found a spot on the back side of some of my rock and that is where it has been. The problem is there is no possible way to target feed it. I can see it but it is impossible to reach it with anything. The color is still great. The tentacles are green on the tips and the whole nem is still a good pinkish color. It expands and retracts throughout the day. I have read several posts on here about people keeping them successfully for years without target feeding. My question is should I worry about trying to feed it, or just let it go since it appears to be doing just fine on its own? By the way, no pictures because its so hard to see through the cracks in the rock. Water parameters all good with Red Sea reef tests.

 

[Mr. Bill]

As long as it appears healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. It's true, nems don't really require target feeding if fish are being fed in the same tank, as they can absorb DOCs from the water as well as catching a tidbit of passing food occasionally.

Yours may still be acclimating itself to your tank (lighting, flow, parameters, etc), but it will eventually move to a more convenient spot if it's not receiving enough nourishment.

 

[kissman]

4 96w power compact may not be enough light over a 180g tank. Thats only a little over 2 watts a gallon. Anemones demand a lot of intense light. They don't need to be fed they get all they need from the lights.

 

[IdahoGuy]

I've never fed my BTA.. It's fine.

 

[tracyclifton]

I thought about the lights. The guy who had the tank before me had a BTA in it for about 5 years successfully with the same lights. I assumed that if the lights weren't enough it wouldn't be hiding in the rocks. Should it move toward the lights if it needs more light? All the bulbs are new.

 

[ken6217]

4 96w power compact may not be enough light over a 180g tank. Thats only a little over 2 watts a gallon. Anemones demand a lot of intense light. They don't need to be fed they get all they need from the lights.

BTA's dont.

Actually in all my experiences with BTA's my lighting was too intense with my ATI T5 fixture. They stayed low in the tank.
Ken

 

[tracyclifton]

That seems logical. It's in the shade and seems to like it.

 

[Mr. Bill]

BTA's dont.

Actually in all my experiences with BTA's my lighting was too intense with my ATI T5 fixture. They stayed low in the tank.
Ken

Agreed, not all nems appreciate strong lighting or flow. It can vary between species, but also individuals depending on their origin.

BTW, the old "watts per gallon" rule was only relevant with T12VHO; more modern lighting uses energy much more efficiently.

 

[tracyclifton]

The first and third pics are from the night I got the BTA. The second is from today. I had to zoom all the way in because he is behind the rock and toward the back of the tank. Its not a great pic but he still looks good to me.

 

[tracyclifton]

Well its been over a month. My BTA must not like strong lights at all. One of my ballasts went out for my 10k lights. That day the bta moved out from under the rocks where its been living. Its moved up some more. I guess if it moves back to the under side when I get the new ballast, I'll know it doesn't enjoy the lights. By the way, it still won't eat anything I offer but looks great.

 

[cet98]

could you please post your actual water parameters?
IMO your nem has been hiding because it has been acclimating itself to its new environment, both lighting and water conditions.
Your best bet is to leave it be and allow it to find its happy place and settle in. A happy bta will not hide all day so when it's out all day you'll know it's all good. Best of luck!

 

[tracyclifton]

Ok, parameters:

salinity 1.022 (in the process of raising it). My lfs uses 1.022 so until I got all my fish in the dt I was keeping it at 1.022. Now the tank is stocked.

temp 78.4
ph 8.3
Ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 2ppm
magnesium 1360
calcium 400
alk 3.0/8.4
dosing vodka at 1.4ml/day

RedSea test kits

 

[Altezza01]

I never feed my bta's. They love the light and catch passing by food

 

[dc]

Unfortunately they don't go where we want them. My first anemone was under MH, it moved to the center front of my tank and never moved the whole 8 years I had it. Split twice is all, the clones never moved either.

I have 4 different anemones now and they're all hiding from me under LEDs. I target feed once a week with a turkey baster.

You could try changing the direction of your waterflow.

 

[tracyclifton]

Changing the flow isn't an option. The few corals I have are really doing well and I don't want to upset the balance by making changes. I have decided to just let the bta do what it will do. I do hope it comes out so we can see it eventually and maybe my clowns will host it someday.

 

[dc]

I wouldn't mess with that luck either. I like target feeding myself, it can't hurt to shoot some food onto it next time you feed the fish.

It took awhile for my clowns to go in. They're picky too, they like the ones that are in the most flow.

 

[Altezza01]

Leave him be and if he doesn't like the spot he'll move

 

[Altezza01]

Just make sure his tentacles are not near any powerheads

 

[tracyclifton]

Update

Update

Its been in the tank almost 2 months. It has moved out from under rocks and now eats when I feed it. Its color is great and he looks to have grown a little. The clowns still aren't interested. I'm pretty confident that it is going to make it.

 

[kissman]

Thats great to hear! any pics?